National News

OTTAWA — The parliamentary budget officer says the federal government could lose out on $260 million from a simplified federal tax measure to let Canadians write off working from home due to the pandemic.

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what's on the radar of our editors for the morning of Feb. 4 ... What we are watching in Canada ...

OTTAWA — The federal government is moving forward on efforts to help citizens of Hong Kong remain in Canada rather than return home amid China's clampdown on democracy.

The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4 a.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. There are 789,651 confirmed cases in Canada. _ Canada: 789,651 confirmed cases (48,221 active, 721,075 resolved, 20,355 deaths).

The latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada as of 4 a.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. In Canada, the provinces are reporting 13,768 new vaccinations administered for a total of 1,000,862 doses given.

OTTAWA — A groundbreaking new report details how countries such as Saudi Arabia, China and Rwanda are meddling in democratic countries, including Canada, to harass, threaten and commit violence against their citizens living abroad.

Students in Ontario regions hit hard by COVID-19 will begin returning to physical classrooms next week as the province said new infections were gradually declining and additional measures had been put in place to ensure schools would be safe.

OTTAWA — Procurement Minister Anita Anand said this week she is confident Canada's COVID-19 vaccine deliveries will only get better going forward but just hours after she made the remark, Canada's vaccine purchases got slammed again.

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times eastern): --- 9:20 p.m. The latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada show the country has surpassed one million doses given for the first time.

The latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada as of 10:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. In Canada, the provinces are reporting 13,768 new vaccinations administered for a total of 1,000,862 doses given.